Guide to power outages in Australia

Blackouts aren’t uncommon in Australia, particularly in times of increased demand on the electricity grid, or during adverse weather. But a power outage isn’t just an inconvenience: if you’re unprepared, a blackout can be potentially dangerous.

In this guide, Canstar Blue discusses power outages in Australia, what can cause them and what to do when they happen.

What is a power outage?

A power outage is when the supply of electricity or gas to a household or business is interrupted for a number of reasons. Power outages that impact entire neighbourhoods or cities are referred to as blackouts and can occur at any time. Depending on the severity of the power outage, loss of power can last from minutes to weeks, and will usually affect specific areas or electricity grids.

What causes electricity outages?

Power outages can be caused by:

• Weather: Heavy rainfall, heatwaves, high winds and lightning strikes
• Vehicles: Motor accidents damaging power lines
• Bushfires: Electricity supply can be cut during emergencies
• Animals: Wildlife can interfere with energy infrastructure
• Maintenance: Sudden drops in electricity supply can short or trip circuits
• Trees: Blackouts can also occur when overhanging branches or trees come into contact with power lines.

How to prepare for a power outage

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has warned that the risks for Australia’s energy reliability are increasing and facing challenges. With delays in project developments and closure of coal generators, the following years could be thwarted by increased blackouts. With this in mind, here are some essentials you should keep handy when preparing for a blackout:

• Cash
• Candles
• Blankets
• Batteries
• First aid kit
• LED Torch
• Fire blanket
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches or a lighter
• Generator (if possible)
• Battery-operated radio
• List of important contacts
• Portable phone charger and cords
• Bottled water and non-perishable foods.

If the power goes out, or you suspect it will (e.g. there’s a severe weather warning), turn off all appliances at the wall. You should also leave a light switch on so you’ll know when power has been restored.

Read more: What to do in a power outage

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If you want to switch energy providers or compare current plans, check out the Canstar Blue comparison tool below.

How to find power outages in your area

You can check for electricity outages, or the loss of gas supply, by searching on the website of your local energy distributor. Energy distributors are responsible for delivering power safely to your home or business, as well as maintaining power lines, pipes and transmission grids in your area. Your energy distributor should have a power outage map on its website where you can input your street, suburb or postcode and receive updates of reported power outages.

The example below comes from Energex, the electricity distributor for South East Queensland.

Image source: energex.com.au

Not entirely sure who your energy distributor is? Keep reading to find your gas or electricity distribution network.

Who is my electricity or gas distributor?

The following is a list of energy distribution networks in Australia, and their contact details in case of power outages:

Distributors in Victoria

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in New South Wales

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in Queensland

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in the ACT

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in South Australia

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in Tasmania

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in Northern Territory

Electricity

Gas

Distributors in Western Australia

Electricity

Gas customers in Western Australia should refer to the Public Utilities Office, the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA), or Energy Ombudsman Western Australia for any energy-related queries.

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How long can a power outage last?

Power outages typically last for short periods of time. A resolution will be estimated by the energy distribution network where the power outage occurred. Time estimates will depend on whether the power outage is due to equipment faults, environmental impacts, third party contact, cable digging or weather-related damage.

Australia’s extreme weather events can impact the nation’s energy infrastructure, resulting in damaged or lost electricity grids and long-lasting power outages. It is extremely difficult to give an exact timeframe of how long a power outage will last in those instances. However, your energy distributor may use social media to keep customers informed.

What are planned power outages?

A scheduled power outage is planned maintenance of energy infrastructure, usually carried out by the energy distributor. Distribution networks, powerlines and gas pipes require constant upkeep to ensure that electricity and gas supplies run efficiently and safely to homes and businesses.

Planned power outages will normally be listed on your energy distributor’s website. 

For example, Jemena’s website in Victoria lists their upcoming planned outages:

Depending on your distributor, the following information should be provided:

• Outage start date and time
• Suburbs or postcodes impacted by power outage
• Number of customers affected
• Scheduled completion date and time
• ID or job number
• Status (i.e. scheduled, in progress or finished).

In the case of an emergency, call 000.

Image Credits: Drop of Light/Shutterstock.com